Safety hull for watercraft

ABSTRACT

A safety hull for watercraft in which a catamaran-type hull provides improved stability during all types of sea, minimizes friction contact with the water to afford maximum speed and efficiency, in which the twin hulls include compartmentalized walls to prevent sinking, and in which forward and aft resilient bumpers protect the hull during collision, and also protect the hull while anchored in a harbor or moored at a pier.

United States Patent [72] inventor Nicomedes S. Generoso 3,016,861 1/1962 Brown 1 14/61 Bacolod City, Philippines 3,236,202 2/1966 Quady et al. 1 14/61 X [2]] Appl. No. 848,786 r 3,261,320 7/1966 Leonard 114/219 [22] Filed Aug. 11, 1969 Primar y ExammerAndrew H. Farrell [45] Patented 1971 Att0meyVictorJ. Evans & C0.

7 [54] SAFETY HULL FOR WATERCRAFT 1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 114/61 ABSTRACT; A Safety hull f t ft in which a 3 Cl B631; 1/10 catamaran-type hull provides improved stability during all [50] Field of Search 114/61, 69, types f Sea, minimizes friction Contact with the water to 2 I 9 ford maximum speed and efficiency, in which the twin hulls include compartmentalized walls to prevent sinking, and in [56] References and which forward and aft resilient bumpers protect the hull dur- UNITED STATES PATENTS ing collision, and also protect the hull while anchored in a har- 5Q 9 461 1 1/189; Qavids 1 14/69 hot or moored at a pier.

"n---- -L h l H l Tll i! i H H :i I I l ZZ- L V'L IL F mu. 0 m N Menu 32 )'O 0 Q O "z: 24 I '1 1'000t0' W'0'0'0N T l l 03490 00 1 i if ll li 'l l! {26 ll i I II 1 H i H l H q f 1l: 1 l| SAFETY HULL FOR WATERCRAFT Primary objects of the present invention are:

to provide a novel hull including two substantially parallel hull elements produced with compartmentalized walls and integrally connected by and overlying superstructure traversed forward and aft by resilient bumpers to protect the hull elements against collision damage, when anchored and docked, as well as preventing the hull from sinking;

to provide a novel hull of the character set forth in which the forward and aft resilient bumpers extend both port and starboard and to a sufficient depth to protect against most frequent possibilities of hull damage;

to provide a hull which minimizes keel engagement in the water to attain most efficient propulsion, and in which the twin hulls provide means whereby the sea can move readily past the hull when the ship is headed into a storm, for example.

These together with other and more specific objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the drawing forming a part thereof, in which:

In the drawing:

FIG. I is a side elevational view showing a ship incorporating a hull of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section taken substantially on the plane of line 3-3 of FIG. 1 showing the compartmentalized wall construction; and

FIG. 4 is a vertical section taken on the plane of line 44 of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawing in detail, a catamaran-type hull is indicated generally at and comprises generally parallel forwardly and rearwardly tapered, independent hull elements 12 and 14 integrally connected by a superstructure 16 including first, second, and top decks 18, 20 and 22, respectively. As seen in FIG. 4, the hull elements 12 and 14 define a through tunnel 24 extending fore and aft which, during a storm, for example, will permit ready flow-through of water and minimize chances of the vessel foundering. The hull elements 12 and 14 have a deadrise angle of about 60 from the keel line and thus the hulls will ride fairly high in the water and minimum water friction results, thus leading to efficiency of fuel and rapidly attained speeds, i.e. good acceleration. The tunnel 24 also promotes lateral stability, breaking up the effect of waves on a single-keel hull.

AS seen in FIG. 3, the walls of the hulls are buoyant per se, being formed with a plurality of separate and sealed, noncommunicating cells or compartments 30, and thus damage to the hull walls, sufficient to cause rupture andpermit entry of water, will not cause the ship to sink nor seriously impair progress to port for repairs. Each of the hulls will include means for introducing a limited amount of water therein (suitable sea valve or the like, not shown) whereby, if water should enter one hull, the other can be filled with approximately the same amount of water in order to maintain the deck level, i.e. maintain hull trim.

Extending transversely of the bow of each hull element 12 and 14 and over the tunnel 24 as well as flanking outer surfaces are bow and stem resilient bumpers 32 and 34, respectively, which can be pneumatically inflated, for example. The

resilient bumper 32 will preferably extend approximately onethird the height of the hull and project outwardly therefrom sufficient so that inadvertent striking of another ship will not cause the hull walls to be struck. In FIG. 1 the vertical plane of the outer edge of pier P is shown in relation to the hull bumper, and it will be noted that the outer hull surface beneath the bumper 32 will not strike the pier.

The propulsion units will be disposed within the tunnel 24 and thus thrust generated will be concentrated within the tunnel, minimizing cavitation, protecting propulsion units from debris, and providing efficient thrust and fuel consumption.

What is claimed is:

1. In a ship, a hull, said hull comprising generally parallel hull elements integrally connected by an overlying superstructure;

said hull elements defining a through tunnel forward to aft for having a propulsion unit disposed therein,

said hull including inflatable bumpers spanning both hull elements and physically mating with and contacting the total curved surfaces of the hull elements at the fore and aft ends of said hull elements,

said hull elements including cellular walls comprising a plurality of longitudinal cellular spaces lying in parallel vertical planes transverse with the longitudinal axis of said hull and providing independent buoyancy to the hull. 

1. In a ship, a hull, said hull comprising generally parallel hull elements integrally connected by an overlying superstructure; said hull elements defining a through tunnel forward to aft for having a propulsion unit disposed therein, said hull including inflatable bumpers spanning both hull elements and physically mating with and contacting the total curved surfaces of the hull elements at the fore and aft ends of said hull elements, said hull elements including cellular walls comprising a plurality of longitudinal cellular spaces lying in parallel vertical planes transverse with the longitudinal axis of said hull and providing independent buoyancy to the hull. 